Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
fMRI Mapping of Brain Activity Associated with the Vocal Production of Consonant and Dissonant Intervals
Published on: May 23, 2017
Measurement of phonated intervals during four fluency-inducing conditions
Jason H Davidow1, Anne K Bothe, Richard D Andreatta
1Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, 100B Davison Hall, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA. jason.davidow@hofstra.edu
Stuttering treatment may benefit from reducing short phonation intervals (PIs) and increasing longer ones. This study found that four fluency-inducing conditions significantly altered PI distributions, reducing short PIs.
Area of Science:
- Speech and Language Pathology
- Acoustic Analysis of Speech
- Fluency Disorders
Background:
- Stuttering is often associated with altered vocalization patterns.
- Reduced short phonation intervals (PIs), 30-200 ms, correlate with decreased stuttering.
- Fluency-inducing conditions (FICs) are known to modify speech in individuals who stutter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if the distribution of phonated intervals (PIs) changes during four common fluency-inducing conditions (FICs).
- To investigate the relationship between PIs and stuttering during specific FICs.
Main Methods:
- A repeated-measures design was employed.
- Phonation interval (PI) distributions were measured during four FICs: chorus reading, prolonged speech, singing, and rhythmic stimulation.
- PI distributions during FICs were compared to control conditions at varying speech rates.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in PI distributions were observed during all four FICs compared to controls.
- A reduction in PIs within the 30-150 ms range occurred across all tested FICs and speech rates.
- These findings support the hypothesis that PI distributions change under fluency-enhancing conditions.
Conclusions:
- Phonation variables are crucial for understanding FICs and treating stuttering.
- Reducing short PIs and increasing longer PIs may be a beneficial therapeutic strategy.
- Treatment programs focusing on prolonged speech or PI manipulation could effectively reduce stuttering severity.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:20Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
00:55Interval Level of Measurement
Data measured using the interval scale are similar to ordinal level data because they have a definite arrangement. However, in the interval level of measurement, the differences between data values are meaningful even though the data does not have a starting point.
Temperature is measured using the interval scale. It is measurable data, and the difference between the...